The elegantly styled classic story of a young, unorthodox teacher and her special--and ultimately dangerous--relationship with six of her students. Published in 1961 and adapted for the stage in 1966, this story of an eccentric Edinburgh teacher who inspires cultlike reverence in her young students was Spark's best-known work.

Miss Brodie teaches at an all-girl school at which she is a pedantic maverick and is constantly under threat of removal. Small wonder! Her teaching methodology is highly unorthodox, as is her personal relationship with her young charges over whom she is bent upon exerting control. Miss B is also in her prime: a fact with which the reader is bombarded page after page. Hence, you guessed it, the title. The narrative is also front loaded with flash-forwards of the characters lives. (If I read once more about how Mary McM. dies in a hotel fire I think Ill scream.) Its a battle of wits between the head mistress, Mackay, and Miss B. Who will win out? That is the question.